PNEUMONIA, OR LUNG FEVER. 125 



time during the attack, lie down ; he does so, however, in the hope of 

 relief, which he fails to find, and with difficulty struggles to his feet ; 

 he pants; the nostrils flap; he staggers and sways from side to side 

 and backward and forward, but still tries to retain the standing 

 position, even by jjropping himself against the stall. It is no use, as 

 after an exhausting fight for breath he goes down; the limbs stretch 

 out and become rigid. In fatal cases death usually occurs in from 

 ten to twenty days after the beginning of the attack. On the other 

 hand, when the disease is terminating favorably the signs are ob- 

 vious. The fever abates and the animal gradualh^ improves in appe- 

 tite ; he takes more notice of things around him ; his spirits improve ; 

 he has a general appearance of returning health, and he lies down 

 and rests. In the majority of cases pneumonia, if properl}^ treated, 

 terminates in recovery. 



Treatment. — The comfort and surroundings of the patient must be 

 attended to first. The (piarters should be the best that can be pro- 

 vided. Pure air is essential. Avoid placing the animal in a stall 

 where he may be exposed to drafts of cold air and sudden changes of 

 temperature. It is much better for the animal if the air is cold and 

 pure than if it is warm and foul. It is better to make the animal com- 

 fortable Avitli warm clothing than to make the stable warm by shut- 

 ting off the ventilation. The animal should have an unlimited supply 

 of fresh cold drinking water from the start. Blanket the body. Rub 

 the legs until they are warm and then put bandages on them from the 

 hoofs up to the knees and hocks. If w^armth can not be reestablished 

 in the legs by hand rubbing alone, apply dry ground mustard and rub 

 well in. The bandages should be removed once or twice every day, 

 the legs well rubbed, and the bandages replaced. Much harm is often 

 done by clipping off hair and rubbing in powerful blistering com- 

 pounds. They do positive injury and retard recovery, and should not 

 be allowed. Much benefit may be derived from hot applications to 

 the sides of the chest if the facilities are at hand to apply them. If 

 the Aveather be not too cold, and if the animal is in a comfortable 

 stable, the following method may be tried : Have a tub of hot water 

 handy to the stable door; soak a woolen blanket in the water, then 

 quickly wring as much water as possible out of it and wrap it around 

 the chest. See that it fits closely to the skin; do not allow it to sag 

 down so that air may get between it and the skin. Now wrap a dry 

 blanket over the wet hot one and hold in place with three girths. 

 The hot blanket should be renewed every half hour, and while it is 

 off being wetted and wrung the dry one should remain over the wet 

 part of the chest to prevent reaction. The hot api^lications should be 

 kept up for three or four hours, and when stopped the skin should be 

 quickly rubbed as dry as possible, an ai:)plication of alcohol rubbed 

 over the wet part, and a dry blanket snugly fitted over the animal. 



